Btpxtiple bttbneb contbol



Patented Feb. 1932 UNITED -s'r-A'res;

PATENT ermee G`.l0l`B.G-I1E.AHU'LSE,l OF NEW' HAVENTACONNECTICT,ASSIGNOR T0 THE'SILICA. GEL COR- PORATION, '0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ACORPORATION 0F MARYLAND MULTIPLE BURNER CONTRGL Application led January25, 1929.. Serial No. 335,112. A

This invention relates to a burnercontrol system and more particularlyto a method ofand apparatus for controlling fluid fuel burners. i

It is ageneral object of the present invention to provide noveland-improved apparatus ,'ffor and a method of controlling fluid fuelburners. I

One,ofthe features of the invention comprises an arrangementVofiburners, a fuel supply, and ignition means so that one or a pluralityof burners canbe made \tolfunction intermittently or successivelyandintermitr-l tently. Y Another feature'of the invention comprises thearrangement of a main burner, a pilot 5m Figure 2 is a plan view of thecam disk. s 24, 25, that each heats its` own coil when burn- 1W.

burner, and an ignition device so that upon Jlihe start of a'supply offuel to the pilot burner, the ignition device will operate to igniteAthe fuel at.the pilot burner, together with means responsive to theburning of the fuel 'at the pilot burner for supplying fuel toitlie mainburner to be ignited bythe pilot light.

A further feature -of the invention comprises a system for automaticallyand successively lightin a plurality of main burners, each to burn Vor apredetermined period, to-

gether with means for shutting oii' the burners, their pilots, andallignition means so that they can be turned on simultaneously tore-stablish any portion of an incomplete 'burning period of anyburnerwhich was'extinguished by turning off the various agencies recitedabove.

vOther and further vfeatures and objects-of the invention will be moreapparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of theaccompanying drawings and following specication whereinis disclosed asingle exemplary .embodiment of the invention with the understanding,however, that such variations and changes may be made therein as fallwithin the scope of the appended claims without departing from thespirit of the invention.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic and diagrammatic representation of the systemand parts for carrying out the above mentioned invention; and` In`various commercial installations, both-1 stationary and portable, it isoften desirableto supply heat over certain fixed periods of time-and tohave these periods repeat themselves atrdetinite intervals or controlledintervals. several units or devices and to heatthem intermittently andsuccessively. The present Sometimes it is desirable to heat' inventionprovides apparatus for carrying ence in description, it will be seenthat a. pipel 10 leads from a source' of iud fuel (not shown) preferablyunder pressure. Any conventional form ofpressure regulator l1 serves toreduce the pressure tothat suitable for the burners. The fuel flows fromtheV pressure regulator through a valve 12'and into a 11197.11#A

ifold 13. The main burners are shown at 14 and 15 respectively connectedby means of tlle pipes 16 and 17 with the manifold 13.

Each pipe 16, 17, is provided with a valve 1 18, 19, normally heldclosed by'any suitable means and adapted to be opened by a pressureresponsivev device 20, 21, which may be inthe formof a corrugated metalbellows.

` Each such device is connected by apipe 22, 23, to a coil 24, 25, whichcontains a thermally responsive liquid. While it is intended that theburner valves 18, 19, may be operated in any manner, for conveniencethey have been shown here as subject totemperaturev control. Undernormal temperature conditions the fluid in the coils 24, 25",issuiciently contracted'to allow the valves to remain closed, but uponany major rise in temperature of the coils 24, 25, the :duid expandsandthe valves are opened thereby. Y

Each main burner is provided with `a. pilot burner 26,27,-yrespectively, and these burners are so positioned inrespe'ct the coils cfixed for the purpose land inc ing. These coils, however, are so mountedas to be out of the range of heating of the main burner. v

Each pilot burner is supplied with fuel by means of a pipe 28, 29,respectively, leading from the manifold 13 and passing through thevalves 30, 31, respectively. When either of the valves 30, 3l, isopened, its corre be lighted. Each sponding pilot burner can pilotburner has located adjacent it the spark gap 32, 33, respectively,connected to suitable ignition means so that a spark can pass across thegap to ignite the fuel issuing from' the burner.

For purposes of convenience, two burners have been shown in the presentsystem, and they are arbitrarily shown las adapted to burn alternateleach one-quarter of the time leaving half of the time with neitherburner ignited. The control of the time regulation is effected by meansof a suitable motor 38, here shown as driven by the expansion of thefuel which is supplied to the motor through the pipe 34 from themanifold 13.`

This motor may well be of the gas meter type or some similar typeadapted to rotate the shaft 35 very slowly through suitable gearing'orotherwise as desired. This4 shaft carries a cam disk` 36 at its upperend which is provided on its undersurface with a circumferential cam37of substantiallyl()o arcuate extent (this 90 is an arbitrary figureofthis explanation) This cam 37 is adapted to engage the operatingmember of the valve 30 and 4of the valve y31 alternately soas to holdeach valve open throughout 90 of rotation of the shaft and to leave twointervals of 90 of rotation of the shaft when both valves are closed.

It will thusbe seen that this ,motor effects the control and operationof the burners p engages and opens the for whenE the cam 37 valve-30,the fuel lfrom the pilot burner 26 will be ignited, and the heatresponsive -coil 24 will function to openthe valve 18 so that the fuelfrom the main burner 14 will beig- -its pilot light and will' continuenited from to burn until thecam 27lallows the valve 30 to close Shortlyafter this, the contraction of the fluid in thecoil 24, due to theabsence of the .pilot light, will allow the bellows 20 to close thevalve 18 and shut olf the main burner 14 `fter a period of substantially90 of rotation of the gam disk 36, a similar successionl of vevents willtake place. at the other main burner and itsappurtenances. Y

The ignition system is vof the electric type udes mary winding of whichis supplied with current from the battery41 through the interru ter 42in the customary manner. The secon n ary winding of the induction coilis connected by means of wires 43 tothe spark gaps 32 and which, it willbe seen, are connected scribed, a very small control the induction coil40, the pri-l in a series for simultaneous operation. The circuit of theprimary winding of the induction coil is from the ground at 44 at asuitable place on the control motor through the cam disk 36, one of thecams 45 on its upper surface, the contact spring 46, wire 47, battery4l, primary winding, vibrator 42, wire 48, switch 49 to groundagain at50.

In Figure 2 is shown a plan view of the cam disk 36 which carries thecams 45 and 45 on its upper surface, each of substantially 90O extentand 90 apart. These cams are so positioned that their phase relation tothe cam 37; the valves 30, 31; and the spring 46 is such that contact ismade at the spring 46 simultaneously with the opening of either valve 30or 31 and is maintained throughout the full extent of the time thateither of these valves is opened. Thus, when either pilot vburner isburning or should be burning, its

ignition means' is in operation. This en sures against a pilot-becomingextinguished and any fuel being wasted or escaping yto cause damage.

The valve 12 previously referred to, when closed, cuts olf the supply offuel to the manifold 13, and thus will extinguish either burner and itspilot light which happens to be burning at the time it is turned off andwill stop the operation of the control motor at whatever position of thecycle it has reached. Whenever the valve is again turned on, the cyclewill be resumed at exactlyy the place wheretit stopped so that whicheverburner was burning will be relighted for the ,remainder of its period.

The circuit to the induction coil. closed by the switch 49 mounted foroperation by the same handle 51 which controls the valve l2 so that whenthe valve is closed, the circuit is opened and vice versa. that when thevalve'is closed, all flames are extinguished, and the ignition means isput out of operation so thatthere is no danger of igniting anyinflammable gases Vwhich may be present. Immediately upon movement ofthe handle y51 in the opposite direction, however,'the 'fuel is turnedon to the motor and to any burner which may have been burning when themotor Was stopped and the ignition immediately starts,

burner valve and ignite the main burner.

By using pilot burner control as above deusedand one that will use but asmall quantity" of fuel, which can be exhausted from the pipe 55" intothe atmosphere is desired without any great waste. The valycsfand forthepilot burners can be very small u antity of fuelwhich cause of thesmallthey must handle, an the valves 30 and 31 can 'thus be readilyoperated by a control motor of small size, =light weight and low cost.However, the burners may be as large This ensuresy motor 38 can be j lso that after the pilot burner has been ignited,it will open its mainas'desired, and very large valves 18 and 19 can be controlled by thetemperature responsive means. This reduces the cost of the wholeequipment and makes it more com- 5. pact. AtA the same time it ensuresvmore certain ignition of the main burners, for the pilot burners lbeingsmallcan have their fuel ignited more readily by an electric ignition ymeans than could the main burners, and the pilot flames will ensureignition of the main burners.

The burner control disclosed in this application was designedparticularly for use in a motor -vehicle or truck carrying'an ad- '15vsorption type refrigeration apparatus. The

two burners shown are arranged to alternately heat the adsorbersftodrive" off the adsorbed vapor and again place them in condition foradsorption. The electric ignition 2 'is readily connected to the storagebattery of the vehicle, and the combination shut-olf valve and switch'isprovided within the easy lreach of the operator so that all iame andsparks can be cut oli', for instance, when the V vehicle is in a garageor taking on a supply 'of-fuel, so that there will be no danger o firew. No part of the refrigeration apparatus has been shown since it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in this `respect butis `applicable to the control of any type of burner or burners. A

' Having thus described the invention, what -is claimed as newanddesired to be secured by Letters Patent"is:.

condition of 'its-pilot burner to actuate each main burner valveandmeans tov selectively vlight said pilot burners.

' 2. In a multiple burner control syst/em, in combination, a source-*offuel supply, a plurality of main burners connected to said fuel' Asource, a pilot burner for each main burier, a valvel for each mainburner, veach valve be# condition of its pilot burner to actuate eachmain burnervalve, af' valye for each pilot burner, means to successivelyopen said pilot burner valvesandmeans to ignite tlie Jfuel 5 at thepilot burner wliose valve is opened. A

3. In a multiplegbu'rne control system, in combination: a source voffuelsupply, aplu trality'ofmain burners connected to said fuel source, apilot burner for each'l main burner,

a valve for each main burner, each valveibecondition..o`f its pilotburner to actuate each main burner -valve,'a valve for each pilotburner, means to, successively open said pilot burner valves an'd meansto ignite the fuel 'at the pilot burnerywhose valve is ppen'ed,

1. In a multiple burner control system, in

ing normally closedymeans responsive to the ing normally closed, meansresponsive tothe,

'pilot burners and means Wherebysaid igni' tion system is put inoperation upon the opening of any pilot burner valve. v

5. In a multiple burner control system, in combination, a source offluid fuel, a fuel conduit, a plurality of main burners connected tosaid conduit, a pilot burner for each main burner and connectedto saidconduit, a motor connected tosaid conduit and adapted to be driven bysaid fuel at a substantially conlstant speed, a valve for each pilotburner, a

valve for each main burner, all of said burner valves being normallyclosed, means ,driven by said motor .to open said pilot burner valvessuccessively, means to ignite thefuel at the `pilot burner whose valveis open, means associating each main burner valve and pilot burner toopen the main burner valve when the pilot burner is burning.

6.. In a" multiple burner control system, in

combination, a source of Huid fuel, a fuel conduit, a shut-off valvebetween saidisource and conduit, a plurality of-mainburners connected tosaid conduit, a pilotc'burner for each main burner and connected to saidconduit, a moto;` connected to said conduit and adapted to be driven bysaid fuel atta substantially constant speed, a valve for ach pilotburner, a valve for each main burner, all of saidburner valves beingnormally closed, means driven by said motor to open said pilot burnervalves successively, means associating,v each main burner valye andpilot burner tc open the Amain burner valve when the pilot burner isburning, an electric ignition system for said Apilot burners, meansdriven by said motor to start said ignition system when anyy pilotburner valve is opened, and means von-said shut-off valve to open saidignition vcircuit when the valve is closed and close thesame Kwhen thevalve is opened.

Z. In.'a multiple burner-control system, in combination, a source ofHuid fuel, a pluralf ity of main burners,a pilotburner for each mainburner," ignition means for said `pilot burners, means Vresponsive tothe burning of each pilot burner to turn -on the fuel @to thecorresponding main burne',a substantially constant speed motor adaptedtosuccessively turn on the fuel" to said pilotfburners and means tosimultaneously stop said motor, shut olf all fuel and stop said ignitionmeans.

In a burner control systenvl,4 combina-cA tion, a source of fuel, aburner, a valve controlling the liow of fuel to said burner, a pilotburner, a pipe connecting said source of fuel supply to said pilotburner, a valve in said 5 pipe, electric ignition means for said pilotburner, a motor actuated by the flow of said fuel to move at asubstantially constant speed, said motor being in control of said secondmentioned valve and said ignition means7 said lo first mentioned valvebeing under the control of said pilot burner.

9. In a burner control system, in combination, a source of fuel, 'aburner, a Valve controlling tlie flow of fuel to said burner, a pilotburner, a pipe connecting said source of fuel supply to said pilotburner, a Valve in said pipe, electric ignition means for said pilotburner, a motor actuated by the flow of said fuel to move at asubstantially constant speed,

said motor being in control of said second mentioned valve and saidignition means, said first mentioned Valve being under the control ofsaid pilot burner, and means to simultaneously stop the operation `of.all parts c of said systei v In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix mysignature. v

GEORGE E. HULSE.

